The Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac (BNIA) has reported that distillation in the region – ‘La Flamme de l’Armagnac’ - commenced yesterday (October 5).

A spokeswoman for the region’s generic body said that distillation has started due to the early harvest. Amanda Garnham said that the vintage 2011 is going to beat previous records.

Distillation began at Domaine d’Arton, just outside the village of Lectoure in the the Haut Armagnac region in Gers, Gascony.

Proprietor Patrick de Montal welcomed his habitual traveling distiller to start the flow of his 2011 Armagnac. Each year, he is one of the first producers to distil.

From November and normally just until January, the whole of Gascony comes alive, according to the BNIA, as a result of the Armagnac distillation.

The Flamme de l'Armagnac, with its burning alambics has started its tour around the rural roads in Armagnac where the new eau-de-vie will flow. There will be accompanying festivals in villages and at the producers'.